Dentist&#39;s bite-tray



March 22, 1932. v. M. GREGG DENTISTS BITE TRAY Filed OCb. 17, 1930 lnventor Ve7^77`972 JVZ. Gregg',

vEL l I Yfttorneg Patented Mar. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES VERNON M. GREGG, F CEDAR TALES, IOWAV DENTISTS BITETRAY Application fnea october 17, '11330.'` serial Nagasasvi. -K i My invention relates to improvements in bite trays, and the object of my improvement is to supply a convenient device or this character for dentists use, having coacting parts with operating means therefor, permitting adjustments in use, and the making of impressions which secure casts for correct articulation in crown and bridge-work.

This object I have accomplished by the 1o means which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is an elevation of the inner face of the outer compression plate and its associated operating elements. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the outer tace of said device. Fig. 3 is a horizontal medial section of my complete device including the coacting plate and string or thread, with a part of the split operating stem broken away. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the elements shown in said Fig. 3 taken along the length of one reach of the thread, and Fig. 5

is a detail view of the headed split operating stem as removed from its tubular casing.

The coacting plates l and 2 are of elliptical coniiguration and are concaved or curvilinearly troughed lengthwise and forwardly, and also curved approximately in parallel rearwardly, the plate 2 being somewhat smaller than the plate l. A hollow casing tube 3 is mounted and fastened in the forward longitudinal hollow of the front plate l medially at one end, and to project from the other end of said plate for a distance adapting it for manual use. A longitudinally split stem or shaft 9 has a discoidal head 8, preferably knurled, and the separated elastic parts of the stem 9 when sprung together, may

` be inserted and to loosely lit the interior walls *o of said tube 3, but leaving the split between said members open a desired space apart.

The forward part of the tube 3 medially over the plate l has a slot 4 lengthwise, and said plate and the opposite wall of the tube have registering holes 5 whichare opposite endfparts of said slot 4. In one rotational position of the split stem 9 its split is in comf munication with said slot and said holes as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, also Fig. 4.

The inner and smaller plate 2 is substan- '-tially-co'ncentric withtheouter plate 1vsin1i.- l'arly shaped, wherebythe plates mayy conorm in generalcurvature ;to 'any portion of the `'toothed jaws of thefwearer, wherever "crownfor bridge workis to be done, the plates vbeing positioned without and within-said portion respectively, after their `interspace is filled with dental wax `for receiving on upper and lower ffaces thereof bite impressions. Be- ''ore filling' the finterspaee of the plates, hownever, a waxed ythread 7 medially looped 'as shown in Fig. 3, is passed through a pairiof apertures' in said AplatiefZ-'said apertures being directlyfoppositetjhe 'apertures 5 in plate l', then the thread members are passed through the lapertures 5 and'thosein the tubular casing 3 including the split ofthesh-aft orf-stem T9 and the elongated slot'4 to project a sufficient' distance therefrom. The wax is then inserted between the pla-tes, the patient caused to take a bite of the interpolated wax with both jaws, and the operator turns the knurled head 8 of the split stem 9, causing the thread to wind thereon, tensioning it while drawing the plates together enough to compress the wax upon that portion of the jaws to which the device is applied. This produces a bite impression in the upper and lower parts of the wax where the teeth are naturally articulated. When the patient withdraws his or her teeth from the wax filling, the device may be removed from the mouth by use of the tube 3 as a handle. After a cast has been made in the usual way, from the impressions as positioned with the natural relation, the crown or other work may be done with certainty that the articulation is correct.

The diii'erent curvatures of the plates or trays permits them to it anywhere about the opposed jaws. The thread loop may be severed, the split-shaft turned to release the thread, so that both plates may be released.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In combination, a pair of plates, and releasable thread connections therebetween, and a roller mounted on one plate operable when releasably connected to said connec- "f Y' Y v Y 1,850,455

tions to cause the plates to approach each other to hold a plastic lling to receive bite impressions fromV both jaws'of a person.

2. In combination, a pair of curvate plates, substantially concentric to fit any portions of the opposed jaws of a wearer, and a looped thread lconnection yremovably engaged with one plate and also engaged with the yother* plate removably, and afsplit-roller mounted 1 on the latter plate adapted to receive and together adjustably. K l n y 3. In combination, a pair of curvateplatess l5 parts to fit upon portions ofthe opposed jaws" Aoa wearerL loosely when their interspace is said mass by oth jaws of the wearer, abearing mountedonthe outer plate having a longitudinal bore and a longitudinal slot openn ing into ythe bore, both said plates having pairs of Atransversely alined holes opposite uparts of said slot, a split shaft rotatable in f the bearing bore with its split in one posi-y n .tion in communication with said ,slot and said plate apertures and a severable flexible cordloopedmedially to have its members f passed through said apertures, split and slot, ,Wherebywhen the shaft is rotated in one di- 3,0 reaction, rthe cord membersvare wound upon -the shaft' to draw together the plates adjustf f ingly.,y Y l p Y A In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

85 VERNON M. GREGG.

fr-v 2,

wind up said connectionrto draw the plates i I Y shaped in their vertical and longitudinal i n c, s y, i;

Y -filled* with a lastic mass'and a bite taken in ,I y, I' 

